Apparatus for measuring jump distances

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring jump distances has a housing with a bottom surface, a track extending longitudinally along the housing, a carriage translatably affixed to the track, and a laser mounted to the carriage so as to direct the beam in a direction away from the housing. A scale is affixed to or adjacent to the track. The scale has distance indicia formed therein. The carriage has an indicator thereon that is directed to the scale such that the distance indicia corresponding to the indicator corresponds to a location of a surface to which the beam of the laser is directed.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for measuring jump distances, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a bottom surface, said housing having a pair of side panels and a front panel extending between said pair of side panels, each of said pair of side panels having a flange at a bottom thereof, said flange defining said bottom surface of said housing, said flange extending transverse to the side panel; 
 a track extending longitudinally along said housing; 
 a carriage translatably the affixed to said track; and 
 a laser mounted to said carriage so as to direct a beam in a direction away from said housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a scale affixed to or adjacent to said track, said scale having distance indicia formed thereon. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , said carriage having an indicator thereon, said indicator directed toward said scale such that the distance indicia corresponding to said indicator corresponds to a location of a surface to which the beam of said laser is directed. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , said laser mounted to said carriage so as to be pivotable in a plane transverse to said longitudinal axis of said track. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , said laser being mounted so as to be in a fixed position with respect to said carriage. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , said track positioned so as to extend along an upper portion of said housing. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , said laser positioned above said front panel, said track extending between said pair of side panels. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , said front panel having a forward surface suitable for display of an advertisement thereon, each of said pair of side panels having an outer surface suitable for the display of advertising indicia thereon. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , at least one of said pair of side panels having a notch formed therein, said notch suitable for receiving a portion of a tape measure therein. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for measuring jump distances, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a bottom surface; 
 a track extending longitudinally along said housing; 
 a carriage translatably the affixed to said track; and 
 a laser mounted to said carriage so as to direct a beam in a direction away from said housing, said carriage comprising:
 a body having a bracket, said bracket receiving said track therein; 
 a pair of surfaces extending upwardly from said body in spaced parallel relation to each other; and 
 a holder pivotally mounted between said pair of surfaces, said holder removably receiving said laser therein. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an indicator affixed to said body and extending outwardly therefrom in a direction away from said laser. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a longitudinal member; and 
 a line having one end connected to said longitudinal member, said line having another end affixed to said carriage or to said laser, said longitudinal member suitable for placement so as to indicate an intended target of the jump. 
 
     
     
       13. An apparatus comprising:
 a jump pit having a granular material therein, said jump having at least one side and an entry end; and 
 a distance measurement device removably positioned adjacent to the side and forward of said entry end of said jump pit, the distance measurement device comprising:
 a housing having a pair of side panels and a front panel extending between said pair of side panels; 
 a track extending longitudinally along said housing; 
 a carriage translatably affixed to said track; and 
 a laser mounted to said carriage so as to direct a beam in a direction away from said housing and toward the granular material in said jump pit. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a tape measure extending from said entry end of said jump pit, said tape measure having an end removably affixed at least one of said pair of side panels. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a scale affixed to or adjacent to said track, said scale having distance indicia formed thereon. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , said carriage having an indicator thereon, said indicator directed toward said scale such that the distance indicia corresponding to said indicator corresponds to a location of a surface to which the beam of said laser is directed. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 13 , said laser mounted to said carriage so as to be pivotable in a plane transverse to said longitudinal axis of said track, said laser mounted to said carriage so as to be fixed in a horizontal position with respect to said carriage. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a longitudinal member; and 
 a line having one end connected to said longitudinal member, said line having another end affixed to said carriage or to said laser, said longitudinal member removably positionable on said granular material in said jump pit so as to indicate an intended target of the jump.